VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: ‘Lord’ could be a ringer for bettors

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004 | 10:34 a.m.

Oddsmakers from the Strip to the Thames like "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."

Both Bally's/Paris Las Vegas oddsmaker Johnny Avello and Warren Lush, who fills a similar role at Ladbroke's Limited in London, say that "Rings" is an overwhelming favorite to get the Best Picture Academy Award on Feb. 29.

Avello has the film as a 4-to-5 favorite, while Lush has it as a 1-to-3 pick.

Both men also agree that Peter Jackson is a shoo-in for Best Director, also for "Rings." Avello has him at even odds to win, ahead of Sofia Coppola, an 8-to-5 underdog for "Lost in Translation."

Lush has Jackson as a 1-to-3 favorite, and also has Coppola next, at 3-to-1.

For Best Actor, Avello likes Sean Penn as a 9-to-5 favorite for "Mystic River," just ahead of Bill Murray, who is a 2-to-1 pick for "Lost in Translation."

Lush has Penn and Murray in a dead heat, at 10-to-11.

Same deal for Best Actress -- both men favor Golden Globe winner Charlize Theron to also win the Oscar for "Monster." Lush has Theron as a prohibitive 2-to-5 favorite. Avello has her at 8-to-5, ahead of Naomi Watts, a 2-to-1 underdog for "21 Grams."

As always, Avello's odds are for entertainment purposes only.

Good show

The best free show in town remains Monday night karaoke at Bootlegger Bistro on Las Vegas Boulevard South.

It starts at 10 p.m. and runs sort of late, but the depth and breadth of talent on any given Monday is world class.

This week VegasBeat dropped in and found ourselves being treated to a group of pros that included Cook E. Jarr; Dave "Magic" Bronson (the drummer for the Righteous Brothers); Derek David (of the Platters); Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes and his gifted musical director, Bill Fayne; Billy Hinsche of the '60s trio Dino, Desi & Billy; and a couple of Rio "bevertainers," who are clearly destined for bigger and better things.

But even better were the "amateurs," who all earned standing ovations. Among the best were Michael Cagle; Rick Atkinson, a 300-pounder who sang in a falsetto voice that wowed everyone; and a 16-year-old who calls himself Willie G., who shook up the crowd by performing a classic Grandmaster Flash rap.

Hostess Kelly Clinton keeps the acts moving and if you ever feel like a more weighty discussion, the place is owned by Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, who is usually there and accessible.

Boxer back

Mike Tyson is back in town. He and his girlfriend, Luz Whitney, were spotted browsing in the Forum Shops at Caesars on Monday.

Tyson stopped into Antiquities and asked staffers for something owned by Marilyn Monroe -- and was directed to the brassiere she wore in "Some Like It Hot." Tyson, who has filed for bankruptcy protection, passed on it, however.

But he did place an order for an old signed check from Al Capone and asked owner Toby Stoffa to be on the lookout for items owned by old-time mobster Arnold Rothstein, best known as the man who fixed the 1919 "Black Sox" World Series.

The light stuff

After more than three months in the hospital -- and now more than 50 pounds lighter -- entertainment icon Jerry Lewis is back at his Las Vegas home.

"He's feeling great -- and he looks like the Jerry Lewis we all know and love," Candi Cazau, a spokeswoman for Lewis and The Orleans, told VegasBeat by phone Tuesday. At his most recent public appearances, including his Labor Day weekend muscular dystrophy telethon, Lewis appeared overweight.

The 77-year-old entertainer plans a return to the stage March 3, when he'll perform a private show at The Orleans for friends, family and invited guests -- including the doctors and nurses at Sunrise Hospital who helped wean him off prednisone, a steroid he was taking for pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung ailment.

After that, depending on his health, Lewis might resume a concert schedule, Cazau said. Lewis signed a 20-year contract with the hotel just before he was diagnosed in 2001.

Eau de Oscar

Talk about being gin-soaked. Bombay Sapphire, the blue-bottled premium gin label, is introducing a fragrance: Bombay Infusion.

Infusion is not actually gin, but is based on the same 10 botanical elements used in the 18th-century recipe that flavors Bombay Sapphire.

In addition to the perfume, there is also a Bombay Infusion shower gel, moisturizing lotion and candles.

So, will Las Vegas' most prominent Bombay drinker -- and paid endorser -- Mayor Oscar Goodman be using the new product?

"I'll have to smell it before I try any of it on," Hizzoner told us on the phone Tuesday. "But if it is as good as their gin, I'm all for it."

Home show

"Homes Across America," an HGTV (Home and Garden Television) series, is coming to Las Vegas over Valentine's Day weekend to film the home of attorney and television host Ed Bernstein.

"My designer, Steve Tomar, submitted photos of my house and some others he has done (such as John McEnroe's and Eddie Van Halen's) to HGTV," Bernstein told us. "They picked me because it is in Las Vegas, but in a very un-Vegas place."

No airdate for the segment has been set. HGTV airs locally on Cox cable channel 64.

VegasBits

Shoppers: Anthony LaPaglia (a recent Golden Globe winner for his work as Jack Malone from the CBS series "Without a Trace") bought a leather jacket over the weekend at Elton's, the stylish new men's haberdashery at Mandalay Place. Sportscaster Brent Musburger was also at the store, but only browsing ...

Party: All of his viewers -- both of 'em (kidding!) -- are invited to a farewell party for outgoing KLAS Channel 8 weatherman Mark Pfister on Saturday night at Cappozoli's Italian restaurant at Desert Inn Road and Maryland Parkway. The cash bar party starts at 8 p.m. and continues until the wee hours. Pfister is going to pursue a career in real estate ...

Film: Comic Rip Taylor was at UNLV's College of Fine Arts Tuesday filming a bit for the E! channel. He stars in the autobiographical play, "It Ain't All Confetti," which opens at the school's Judy Bayley Theatre March 12 ...

Star: Look for Mike Ditka to make an unscheduled appearance at the Caesars Palace Race and Sports Book during the Super Bowl on Sunday. We hear he's bringing about a dozen footballs to sign for trivia contest winners ...

Rest: ESPN's Shelly Smith will be taking a break from her coverage of the Kobe Bryant trial in Colorado to spend Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas. She'll host a private party at New York-New York's ESPNZone on Sunday ...

Foot: NASCAR racer Kyle Petty ran the Las Vegas Half Marathon on Sunday, finishing in 2 hours, 7 minutes. Would have been quicker to drive.

From Sun wires

Evans charged: R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband, record executive Todd Russaw, were arrested on drug possession charges.

Evans and Russaw were charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana and booked at the Fulton County, Ga., jail, WSB-TV reported today.

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